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Need to go electric to cut oil demand: PM Modi

on Wednesday made a pitch for technologically-driven social-sector programmes and highlighted various sustainable and green initiatives, including the one reported by TOI where a team of IIT-Delhi students has devised a way to fight air pollution by replacing wood with cow dung ‘logs’ during funerals.

, Modi said that India Inc should come together and pool in their CSR initiatives so that effective, and comprehensive, solutions can be worked upon to tackle various problems being faced by the marginalised sections of the society.

The Prime Minister also floated the concept of a ‘tax-plus one’ system where citizens do a little more towards society, besides honestly paying taxes. Modi said that more people were paying taxes under his government as they had faith that their money is being utilised properly.

Speaking about the recent spike in oil prices, Modi said that moving over to

is one answer to cut down the dependence on oil. He asked domestic entrepreneurs to develop low cost, affordable battery and charging systems to quickly charge cars that run on electricity.

The Prime Minister said the taxpayer base in India has risen not due to a threat of penal action but because taxpayers have faith that their money is being used properly and for the welfare of people. “Paying tax is ‘prakriti’ (natural), not paying tax is ‘vikriti’ (deformity). But paying tax plus doing more is ‘sanskriti’ (culture),” he said.

“I appreciate honest tax payers whose numbers have increased. But tax that is paid is part of the system. Social service is tax-plus something. We need to create that.”